Sitting patient leg restraint

ABSTRACT

A sitting patient leg restraint comprises a central section, a hollow wide tube formed of cotton broadcloth or the like, elongated sufficiently as to be capable of looping around a thigh of the seated patient, and across the patient&#39;s mid-section (or lower torso) and around the sides at least to the back-rest of the chair. Tie straps of the same type of material extend from opposite ends of the central section. The interior of the central section is filled with a soft padding, such as cotton batting used in quilting, and the central section is divided into multiple sections by stitching or the like extending thereacross to assist in maintaining a relatively wide and flat shape, and to keep the padding secure and distributed throughout the interior. One end of the central section is located near a side of the chair back-rest, placed to extend along the patient&#39;s lower torso over the thigh-torso intersection into the groin area, thence under that thigh and back over the top of that thigh, across the lower torso and around the opposite side of the patient to the opposite side of the chair back-rest. The ties are then joined behind the back-rest.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device and method for holding or restraininghandicapped patients in a sitting position. Many patients can benefitfrom spending some time in a sitting position, rather than beingbedridden in supine position, but they do not have sufficient physicalstrength and/or stability to remain in a chair, wheelchair, or otherchair-like device (hereinafter referred to collectively as a chair)without some form of belting and/or restraining system which will holdthe patient's torso firmly and completely within the chair. Variousforms of belts, folded sheeting, etc. have been improvised in an effortto achieve this desired result. Most of these have been makeshift andnot suitable for use in more organized medical or nursing carefacilities where some standard type of device is required for reason ofprocedure, as to assure approved restraining assistance to the patientwhich will not be potentially harmful in some way. In addition toadapting to a standard, such a device must also be of adequate strength,adjustable to different sizes of patient and/or chair, and launderablealong with other reusable care items such as bedding, loose clothing,orthe like. A simple seat belt type of restraint is not suitable becausethe patient may slip under it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a restraining system (e.g. a device and amethod) which can meet these criteria, which can be easily andinexpensively manufactured, which does not need complicated buckles orsimilar connecting apparatus, and which can be applied bynon-professional personnel without concern for possible consequent harmto and/or insecurity of the seated patient.

The device according to this invention includes a central sectionelongated sufficiently as to be capable of looping around at least onethigh of the seated patient, and across the patient's mid-section (orlower torso) and around the sides at least to the back-rest of thechair. Preferably this central section is a hollow wide tube formed ofcotton broadcloth or the like which has fastened to its opposite endstie straps of the same type of material. The interior of the centralsection is filled with a soft padding, such as cotton batting used inquilting, and the central section is divided into multiple sections bystitching or the like extending thereacross to assist in maintaining arelatively wide and flat shape, and to keep the padding secure anddistributed throughout the interior.

The device is used by seating the patient in a chair and applying thedevice as follows. One end of the central section is located near a sideof the chair back-rest, and then placed to extend along the patient'slower torso over the thigh-torso intersection into the groin area,thence under that thigh and back over the top of that thigh, across thelower torso and around the opposite side of the patient to the oppositeside of the chair back-rest, where the opposite end of the centralsection is located. The ties are then joined behind the back-rest,preferably simply by securely tying them together.

The device can be positioned to encompass either thigh of the seatedpatient. In practice, it has been found that the loop around one thighis sufficient, and that with the device so applied the patient is heldwith the buttocks against the hair back-rest and firmly on the seat,restrained against lateral movement of the lower torso. The forceapplied to the patient by the device is distributed because of the widthof the device and as a result of its padding, so as not to cause localsores or the like.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide a simpleeffective leg restraint device for helping to hold a disabled patient ina sitting position within a chair or the like; an additional object isto provide a method of restraint and support for sitting patients whichis comfortable, effective, and easy to use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a restraint device according to theinvention, with a break to shorten the overall length of the view;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 2--2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a patient seated in a chair with thedevice applied to the patient; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are front and rear views, respectively, of the seatedpatient with the device applied.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In accordance with the invention a restraint device 10 is illustrated inFIG. 1 as including a central section 12 elongated sufficiently as to becapable of looping around a thigh 14 of the seated patient 15, andacross the patient's mid-section (or lower torso) 16 and around thesides at least to the back-rest 20 of the chair 22. Preferably thiscentral section 12 is formed as a hollow wide tube 25 (see FIG. 2) ofcotton broadcloth or the like which has fastened to its opposite endstie straps 27 of the same type of material. The interior of the centralsection is filled with a soft padding 28, such as cotton batting used inquilting, and the central section is divided into multiple sections 12A,12B, 12C etc. by stitching or the like 29 extending thereacross toassist in maintaing a relatively wide and flat shape, and to keep thepadding secure and distributed throughout the interior.

The device is used by seating the patient in a chair 22 and applying thedevice 10 as follows. One end 12A of the central section 12 is locatednear a side 20A of chair back-rest 20, and then the device is routedalong the patient's lower torso over the thigh-torso intersection intothe groin area, thence under the thigh 14 and back over the top of thatthigh, across the lower torso 16 and around the opposite side of thepatient to the opposite side 20B of the chair back-rest, where theopposite end 12D of the central section is located. Tie straps 27 arethen joined behind the backrest 20, preferably simply by securely tyingthem together.

The device 10 can be positioned to encompass either thigh of the seatedpatient. In practice, a loop around one thigh is sufficient, as shown inFIGS. 3-5, and with the device so applied the patient is held with thebuttocks against the chair back-rest and firmly on the seat, restrainedagaist lateral movement of the lower torso. The force applied to thepatient by the device is distributed along the width of the device andas a result of its padding, so as to minimize chafing or the like.

A specific device, successfully tested, has a central section 10 whichis seventy inches in length, divided into six parts 12A, 12B etc. ofapproximately equal length. The central section has a width of aboutseven inches and an compressed thickness of about three-quarters of aninch. The end parts of the central section are preferrably taperedsomewhat (see FIG. 1) where they are attached to the ties 27. Those tieshave a length of about thirty six inches. A device of these approximatedimensions has been found to accomodate sufficient variations in patientsize and chair or other seating devices, as to be widely applicable. Anoutline of a wheel 30 is shown in FIG. 3 to illustrate that theinvention is applicable to patients in a wheelchair as well asstationary chairs.

While the method herein described, and the form of apparatus forcarrying this method into effect, constitute preferred embodiments ofthis invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedto this precise method and form of apparatus, and that changes may bemade in either without departing from the scope of the invention, whichis deinfed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of holding a patient in a sittingposition upon a chair or the like, comprisingproviding a restraintdevice having an elongated padded central section with a widthsufficient to distribute restraining pressure over a substantial area,and tie means attached to opposite ends of the central section, wrappingthe restraint device about the mid-section and sides of a patient'storso and looping the central section around one thigh of the patient,then connecting the tie means behind the chair to restrain the patientfully into the chair in a generally up-right seated position with thepatient's thighs extending approximately at right angles to thepatient's torso.